Off Season “Fun” Can Put NFL Player Safety At Risk

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) during organized team activities at the Broncos training facility. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

The off season can be just as stressful for teams as the regular season when it comes to player safety. With every snap of the ball, of course there’s always the risk that an injury can happen. What about injuries that happen during the off season though?

Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas tore his Achilles in February 2011 during an off season workout. Luckily, he made a speedy recovery and joined the team for the start of the season. In 2010, left tackle Ryan Clady had surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon, which he suffered during a pick-up basketball game.

Injuries that happen to key players are troubling during the season, but they’re downright frustrating during the off season. It’s surprising then that the Seahawks didn’t put the brakes on left tackle Russell Okung’s plan to run with the bulls in Spain.

That brings up a relevant point for the Broncos. Colorado is filled with opportunities for potentially risky off season behavior. How about snowboarding in March without a helmet? I’ve seen one unnamed Broncos player do it at Keystone. How about climbing a class three “fourteener” in the summer months? While it’s a great way to keep fit, one slip or twist of the knee/ankle can be a recipe for disaster.

All NFL players have contracts spelling the terms for partaking in risky endeavors, but as fans, what do you think of these players engaging in these behaviors? Where should teams draw the line for players?

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